Swedish doctor treats Gaza's worst injuries in field hospital
Swedish doctor Märit Halmin describes treating severe injuries at a Gaza field hospital. The intensive care specialist has served three weeks at the 80-bed facility, which operates at full capacity. This marks her sixth humanitarian mission in conflict zones worldwide.
Swedish intensive care doctor Märit Halmin works in an 80-bed field hospital in Gaza. The facility operates at full capacity daily. On Thursday morning, a man arrived with head injuries from an explosion. Shortly after, another shooting victim needed immediate care.
Halmin has served nearly three weeks at the desert medical camp. She lives in a barracks on the hospital grounds. Roosters crow at 5 AM, a sound that echoes across the plain.
This marks Halmin's sixth humanitarian mission. She normally works at Södersjukhuset in Stockholm. Her previous deployments include Afghanistan in 2015, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Cameroon.
Gaza's medical crisis overwhelms existing facilities. Field hospitals provide essential care when local systems collapse. International medical volunteers like Halmin fill critical gaps during conflicts.
The Swedish doctor wants people to understand the scale of the disaster. She said the situation requires global attention and support. Medical workers face difficult decisions daily about patient care.
Humanitarian missions demand both medical expertise and emotional resilience. Volunteers often work in dangerous conditions with limited resources. The physical and psychological toll on medical staff remains substantial.